Why do we punish negligent behaviors?

Sarin Arunima, Harvard University

Cushman Fiery, Harvard University

Abstract

Prior research suggests that negligent harms are punished because
of the resulting negative outcomes. Under this account, negligent but completely
harmless acts should not be punished. An alternative possibility is that
negligence is punished as a way of modifying future thought and behavior. Across
three studies we find support for this second proposal. Study 1 demonstrates that
punishment is assigned to negligent agents, irrespective of whether or not a harm
actually occurs. Study 2 demonstrates that non-negligent agents who cause harm
are punished less than negligent agents who do not cause harm. Study 3 shows that
the punishment of harmful negligent actions is only judged to be successful when
it results in the agent ceasing to act negligently, and not when it results in
the harm ceasing to occur. Together, these results suggest that a primary
function of punishment in cases of negligence is modify future thought.